Another disappointment: Leipzig also loses in Graz

Out without applause: RB Leipzig also lost their last Champions League game of the season and finished the top flight with just one win in eight games. The Saxons lost 0:1 (0:1) at Austrian champions Sturm Graz in Klagenfurt. Arjan Malic scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute. Despite numerous good chances, RB were unable to equalize in the ensuing period.

RB coach Marco Rose had started the big rotation machine compared to the 2:2 in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen. He was without key players Peter Gulacsi, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Xavi Simons, the injured Kevin Kampl and Benjamin Sesko. Instead, Maarten Vandevoordt, Lutsharel Geertruida, Nicolas Seiwald, Amadou Haidara, Christoph Baumgartner and Yussuf Poulsen all made starting appearances.

RB had never fielded a formation like this before and it showed in the opening minutes. The team first had to find its feet. The Austrian double winners took control of the game, but were not dangerous. The Saxons found their feet after 20 minutes, but Nusa failed to beat Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who is 2.06 meters tall, with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

RB fail to take advantage of a period of pressure

It was the prelude to a phase in which RB should have taken the lead. However, Loïs Openda (23) only hit the outside of the net. There was no sign of Graz for ten minutes and they registered their first shot on goal after half an hour. But from then on, nothing came together for the visitors. The division of space suddenly no longer worked, there was no assignment. This was fatal when they conceded the goal. From a corner kick, the Austrians had complete freedom in the five-meter area and Malic took advantage of this to take the lead.

And yet they should have gone into the break with a draw. Openda (44) played a dream pass to Baumgartner, who laid it off to Geertruida, but Scherpen did just as well to stop his shot as he did to stop the rebound, which Baumgartner was unable to convert.

Baumgartner fails again and again

Baumgartner had an extremely unfortunate performance at home. He failed again and again, missing several chances. This was also the case in the 55th minute, when he missed a good chance with a lack of concentration. After the VAR had conceded a goal from William Wüthrich after a foul on Willi Orban, Rose reacted and brought on Raum, Sesko and Simons. Castello Lukeba also made his 20-minute comeback after a long injury lay-off.

At the time, Raum in particular was able to get the ball into the opposition goal, but there were no great opportunities. As a result, RB's disappointing performance in the top flight ended with their seventh defeat.